Abstract
This dissertation examines the environmental and ethical dimensions of sterling silver jewellery production, synthesising evidence from life-cycle assessments and industry analyses to evaluate its sustainability profile. Through systematic literature review, this study identifies that whilst sterling silver jewellery carries measurable environmental burdens, its climate impact remains approximately one hundred times lower than equivalent gold pieces. The analysis reveals that raw material acquisition—specifically mining and refining—constitutes the dominant environmental hotspot, accounting for approximately 94% of total emissions for a simple silver ring. Critically, the adoption of recycled silver emerges as the single most effective mitigation strategy, reducing carbon footprints to approximately one-third of primary silver levels. Beyond environmental considerations, this study addresses ethical concerns including labour practices, community displacement, and supply chain transparency. The findings support recommendations for consumers and industry stakeholders, emphasising recycled materials, credible certifications such as the Responsible Jewellery Council, and circular economy principles. This dissertation concludes that informed material choices and supply chain transparency can substantially reduce both environmental and social harms within the sterling silver jewellery sector.
Introduction
The global jewellery industry represents a significant economic sector with profound environmental and social implications. Consumer demand for precious metal adornments continues to grow, yet awareness of the ecological footprint and ethical dimensions of jewellery production has intensified considerably in recent decades. Sterling silver, an alloy comprising 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (typically copper), occupies a substantial market position as an accessible precious metal alternative to gold and platinum.
The environmental credentials of sterling silver jewellery merit rigorous examination within the broader context of sustainable consumption. Whilst gold’s devastating environmental legacy has received considerable scholarly attention, silver production has remained comparatively understudied despite sharing many problematic characteristics with other extractive industries (Farjana et al., 2019). Mining operations for precious metals invariably involve significant land disturbance, water consumption, chemical usage, and energy demands, generating cascading environmental consequences that extend far beyond extraction sites.
This topic commands academic attention for several interconnected reasons. Firstly, the jewellery sector’s environmental impact, though smaller than heavy industries, remains non-trivial and amenable to improvement through informed consumer choice and industry practice. Secondly, ethical considerations surrounding mining—including labour conditions, community displacement, and conflict financing—intersect with environmental concerns, demanding integrated analysis. Thirdly, the growing consumer interest in sustainable products creates commercial and policy relevance for understanding these dynamics.
Socially and practically, this research addresses pressing questions facing both consumers seeking responsible purchasing options and industry stakeholders developing sustainability strategies. As circular economy principles gain traction across manufacturing sectors, understanding how recycling, certification schemes, and design choices influence jewellery sustainability becomes increasingly pertinent.
Aim and objectives
Aim
This dissertation aims to critically evaluate the environmental and ethical footprint of sterling silver jewellery, comparing its impact profile with alternative precious metals whilst identifying evidence-based strategies for footprint reduction.
Objectives
To achieve this aim, the following specific objectives guide this research:
1. To synthesise life-cycle assessment evidence quantifying the environmental impact of sterling silver jewellery production, identifying key impact categories and hotspots.
2. To compare the climate impact of sterling silver with gold jewellery, establishing the relative sustainability credentials of each material.
3. To evaluate the effectiveness of recycled silver in reducing environmental burdens compared with primary (mined) silver.
4. To examine the ethical and social dimensions of silver jewellery production, including labour practices, community impacts, and supply chain transparency.
5. To develop evidence-based recommendations for consumers and industry stakeholders seeking to minimise the environmental and ethical footprint of sterling silver jewellery.
Methodology
This dissertation employs a systematic literature synthesis approach, drawing upon peer-reviewed academic publications, industry reports, and authoritative institutional sources to address the stated research objectives. This methodology is particularly appropriate given the multidisciplinary nature of the research questions, which span environmental science, materials engineering, business ethics, and consumer behaviour.
Search strategy
Literature searches were conducted across multiple academic databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using search terms encompassing “sterling silver,” “silver jewellery,” “life cycle assessment,” “environmental impact,” “mining,” “recycling,” “ethical sourcing,” and related terminology. Searches were supplemented by citation tracking from seminal publications and consultation of specialist repositories.
Inclusion criteria
Sources were included if they met the following criteria: publication in peer-reviewed journals or by recognised academic or governmental institutions; direct relevance to precious metal jewellery production, environmental assessment, or ethical sourcing; publication in English; and availability of full text for detailed analysis.
Quality assessment
Each source was evaluated for methodological rigour, transparency of data sources, and alignment with established environmental assessment standards, particularly ISO 14040/14044 for life-cycle assessment studies. Preference was given to studies employing quantitative methodologies with clearly defined system boundaries.
Synthesis approach
Following data extraction, findings were organised thematically according to the research objectives, enabling identification of consistent patterns, contradictions, and knowledge gaps within the existing literature. Quantitative findings from life-cycle assessments were compared where methodological consistency permitted, whilst qualitative evidence regarding ethical dimensions was synthesised narratively.
Literature review
Life-cycle assessment of precious metal jewellery
Life-cycle assessment (LCA) provides the principal methodological framework for quantifying environmental impacts across product systems, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life management. Within the jewellery sector, LCA studies have illuminated the relative contributions of different production stages to overall environmental burdens.
Fernandez and Klimas (2019) conducted a comparative life-cycle assessment of jewellery materials, yielding striking findings regarding climate impact differentials. Their analysis demonstrated that an 8-gram piece of 14-carat gold jewellery generated approximately 288 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-eq) in global warming potential. By contrast, an equivalent-mass sterling silver piece produced approximately 2.68 kilograms CO₂-eq—representing roughly one-hundredth of the gold impact. This substantial differential reflects the considerably higher energy intensity of gold extraction and refining, alongside the lower ore grades typically encountered in gold mining operations.
Usapein and Tongcumpou (2016) provided granular analysis of silver ring production in Thailand, establishing that raw silver acquisition dominated the environmental profile, accounting for approximately 94% of total emissions (1.03 kg CO₂-eq per ring). Manufacturing processes and transportation contributed relatively minor shares, suggesting that material sourcing decisions hold greater environmental significance than production technique optimisation for simple jewellery forms.
Company-scale life-cycle assessments have reinforced these findings. Thammaraksa, Wattanawan and Prapaspongsa (2017) examined a large Thai jewellery manufacturer, confirming that gold and silver mining and refining constituted the dominant impact hotspots across multiple environmental categories, including climate change, toxicity, and resource depletion. Their analysis emphasised that upstream supply chain interventions offer the greatest potential for impact reduction.
Environmental impacts of silver mining and refining
Silver mining operations generate diverse environmental burdens extending beyond climate impacts. Farjana et al. (2019) conducted detailed life-cycle assessment of gold and silver refining processes, documenting significant contributions to human toxicity, ecotoxicity, and resource depletion categories. Their findings underscored the importance of considering multiple impact categories rather than focusing solely on carbon emissions.
Lin and Sai (2023) identified several specific environmental harms associated with precious metal extraction: soil erosion from mining activities; water pollution from processing chemicals and tailings; heavy metal contamination of surrounding ecosystems; and substantial energy consumption throughout extraction and refining stages. These impacts frequently affect ecologically sensitive regions and communities with limited capacity to enforce environmental protections.
Jiang et al. (2025) expanded this analysis within the context of eco-friendly jewellery design, noting that raw material acquisition consistently emerges as the primary environmental concern, irrespective of specific mining location or technique. Their research supported the prioritisation of material sourcing decisions within sustainability strategies.
Recycled silver as mitigation strategy
The utilisation of recycled silver represents the most consistently identified strategy for reducing sterling silver jewellery’s environmental footprint. Secondary silver—recovered from post-consumer products, industrial scrap, or manufacturing waste—bypasses the energy-intensive and ecologically disruptive extraction phase that dominates primary silver’s impact profile.
Thammaraksa, Wattanawan and Prapaspongsa (2017) identified recycled silver as the single most effective mitigation option available to jewellery manufacturers, recommending increased procurement of secondary materials as a priority intervention. Cardinal (2004), reviewing sustainable business practices within extractive industries, similarly emphasised circular material flows as fundamental to reducing environmental burdens.
Brand-level data analysed by Lin and Sai (2023) indicated that recycled silver carries approximately one-third the carbon footprint of newly mined silver—a substantial reduction that compounds across production volumes. Usapein and Tongcumpou (2016) corroborated these findings, recommending recycled material adoption alongside process efficiency improvements.
The technical equivalence of recycled silver to primary silver facilitates substitution without quality compromises. Sterling silver’s composition can be maintained identically whether derived from virgin or secondary sources, eliminating performance barriers to recycled content adoption.
Ethical and social dimensions of silver jewellery production
Beyond environmental considerations, the precious metals supply chain raises profound ethical concerns. Silver mining operations frequently occur in regions with weak governance structures, limited labour protections, and vulnerable communities.
Lin and Sai (2023) documented multiple social harms associated with precious metal extraction: exposure of workers to hazardous chemicals; pollution affecting surrounding communities; displacement of indigenous peoples from traditional lands; and labour risks including inadequate safety provisions. These concerns parallel well-documented issues within the gold mining sector, though silver has historically received less scrutiny.
Jiang et al. (2025) emphasised the interconnection between environmental and social impacts, noting that ecological degradation frequently falls disproportionately upon marginalised communities living near extraction sites. The concept of environmental justice thus becomes relevant to understanding silver’s ethical footprint.
Traceability and certification schemes
Growing recognition of supply chain risks has prompted development of traceability and certification mechanisms within the jewellery industry. Carrigan et al. (2017) examined corporate responsibility challenges facing jewellery businesses, identifying institutional pressures driving adoption of responsible sourcing practices despite significant implementation challenges for small and medium enterprises.
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has emerged as a prominent certification body, establishing standards for business ethics, human rights, environmental protection, and product disclosure throughout the precious metals supply chain. Keller-Aviram (2021) analysed traceability, sustainability, and circularity mechanisms within the luxury jewellery segment, identifying these as increasingly important sources of emotional added value for consumers seeking ethical products.
Fairtrade and Fairmined certification schemes address artisanal and small-scale mining specifically, establishing standards for working conditions, community development, and environmental management whilst providing premium prices to certified producers (Lin and Sai, 2023). These initiatives acknowledge that artisanal mining, though sometimes associated with problematic practices, can also support local livelihoods when conducted responsibly.
Artisanal production and cultural heritage
The social dimensions of jewellery production extend beyond harm prevention to encompass positive contributions. D’Eusanio, Serreli and Petti (2019) conducted social life-cycle assessment of jewellery production, emphasising potential benefits for local communities including employment, skills development, and cultural heritage preservation. Artisanal jewellery traditions frequently embody centuries of accumulated cultural knowledge, contributing to community identity and economic resilience.
However, these potential benefits remain contingent upon responsible material sourcing. Artisanal jewellers lacking supply chain transparency may inadvertently utilise silver derived from environmentally destructive or socially harmful extraction operations, undermining the positive dimensions of craft production. Integration of ethical sourcing practices into artisanal production thus emerges as essential for realising its sustainability potential.
Design considerations and circularity
Product design decisions influence environmental outcomes through multiple pathways. Jiang et al. (2025) identified that simpler jewellery forms tend to carry lower environmental footprints, primarily through reduced material requirements and manufacturing complexity. Design for durability similarly extends product lifespan, distributing embodied impacts across longer use phases.
Gurung (2019) examined sustainability integration within jewellery business models, emphasising the importance of circular economy principles including repair services, resizing capabilities, and end-of-life silver recovery. These practices maintain silver within productive use, reducing demand for primary extraction whilst generating additional revenue streams for jewellery businesses.
Carrigan et al. (2017) noted that consumers increasingly expect jewellery retailers to accept returns of worn items for recycling, reflecting broader shifts toward circular consumption patterns. Businesses facilitating such returns contribute to secondary silver availability whilst strengthening customer relationships.
Discussion
Interpreting the comparative impact of sterling silver
The life-cycle assessment evidence synthesised in this review establishes sterling silver’s position within the precious metals hierarchy with considerable clarity. The approximately hundredfold differential between silver and gold jewellery (per equivalent mass) represents a substantial sustainability advantage for silver, though this advantage must be contextualised appropriately.
The magnitude of this differential reflects fundamental differences in ore grades, extraction energy requirements, and refining processes between the two metals. Gold’s exceptional scarcity necessitates processing vastly greater quantities of ore to yield equivalent metal masses, multiplying energy consumption and waste generation proportionately. Silver, whilst still requiring significant extraction effort, benefits from higher typical ore concentrations and frequent recovery as a byproduct of base metal mining operations.
This comparative advantage does not, however, render sterling silver environmentally benign. The absolute impacts documented—approximately one kilogram CO₂-eq per simple ring—remain non-trivial, particularly when aggregated across industry production volumes. The finding that raw material acquisition dominates this footprint (approximately 94%) directs attention firmly toward supply chain interventions rather than manufacturing process improvements.
The primacy of recycled silver
The evidence consistently identifies recycled silver adoption as the most effective available intervention for reducing sterling silver’s environmental footprint. The approximately two-thirds reduction achievable through secondary material use represents a substantial improvement requiring no compromise in product quality or performance.
This finding aligns with broader principles of industrial ecology, which emphasise that avoiding primary extraction through material circulation typically generates greater environmental benefits than optimising extraction processes. The energy and material inputs required for silver refining from secondary sources remain far lower than those required for mining, crushing, concentrating, and refining virgin ores.
Implementation barriers to increased recycled silver utilisation appear relatively modest. Unlike some recycled materials, secondary silver maintains identical chemical properties to primary silver, eliminating technical objections to substitution. Supply constraints may arise if demand significantly outpaces recovery rates, though the substantial existing stocks of silver in consumer products, industrial applications, and photographic materials provide considerable potential for increased recovery.
Ethical considerations and their integration
The ethical dimensions of silver jewellery production present more complex challenges than environmental impacts, given their dependence upon social, political, and economic contexts that vary substantially across producing regions. Nevertheless, several consistent themes emerge from the literature.
The interconnection between environmental and social harms deserves particular emphasis. Communities experiencing pollution from mining operations typically possess limited political power to demand remediation, creating environmental justice concerns that compound ecological impacts. Labour risks similarly concentrate among vulnerable populations with few alternative livelihood options.
Certification and traceability schemes offer partial responses to these challenges, establishing standards and verification mechanisms that enable responsible sourcing. However, the literature acknowledges implementation difficulties, particularly for small and medium enterprises lacking resources for extensive supply chain auditing. The premium costs associated with certified materials may also limit accessibility for lower-priced market segments.
Implications for consumers
The evidence synthesised in this review supports several actionable recommendations for consumers seeking to minimise the footprint of sterling silver jewellery purchases.
Prioritising recycled silver emerges as the single most impactful choice available to consumers. Products explicitly marketed as containing recycled silver, particularly those backed by credible verification, offer substantially reduced environmental burdens without quality compromises.
Seeking credible certifications—including Responsible Jewellery Council membership, Fairtrade or Fairmined certification, and transparent supply chain documentation—provides additional assurance regarding both environmental and social performance. Consumers should critically evaluate certification claims, distinguishing rigorous third-party verification from unsubstantiated marketing assertions.
Design choices also influence environmental outcomes. Simpler designs requiring less material carry correspondingly lower footprints, whilst durability considerations affect the distribution of embodied impacts across product lifespans. Consumers valuing sustainability might reasonably preference robust, timeless designs over trend-driven items likely to face premature obsolescence.
Finally, circular behaviours—including repair, resizing, and eventual recycling of silver jewellery—contribute to maintaining silver within productive use, reducing aggregate demand for primary extraction.
Implications for industry stakeholders
Jewellery manufacturers, retailers, and industry bodies face considerable opportunities to reduce sectoral environmental and ethical impacts. Increased procurement of recycled silver represents the highest-priority intervention, generating substantial environmental benefits whilst demonstrating commitment to sustainability.
Supply chain transparency investments, though resource-intensive, generate multiple benefits including risk management, consumer trust, and regulatory preparation. As consumer and regulatory expectations regarding supply chain responsibility intensify, early investments in traceability infrastructure may confer competitive advantages.
Design for durability and circularity—including repair services, take-back schemes, and end-of-life silver recovery—aligns business models with emerging consumer expectations whilst supporting secondary silver availability. These circular practices generate opportunities for ongoing customer relationships rather than single transactions.
Limitations and knowledge gaps
This analysis necessarily reflects limitations within the underlying evidence base. Life-cycle assessments vary in system boundaries, impact categories assessed, and data quality, complicating direct comparisons across studies. Geographic variation in mining practices, energy sources, and regulatory stringency introduces additional uncertainty regarding global average impacts.
The ethical dimensions of silver supply chains remain understudied relative to gold, reflecting silver’s lower unit value and correspondingly reduced attention from researchers and advocacy organisations. More comprehensive investigation of labour conditions, community impacts, and governance challenges within silver-producing regions would strengthen the evidence base for responsible sourcing guidance.
Consumer behaviour research regarding jewellery purchasing decisions, particularly the influence of environmental and ethical considerations on actual choices, represents another underdeveloped area. Understanding the gap between stated preferences and purchasing behaviour could inform more effective communication strategies.
Conclusions
This dissertation has examined the environmental and ethical footprint of sterling silver jewellery through systematic synthesis of life-cycle assessment evidence, industry analyses, and ethical sourcing literature. The findings address each stated objective whilst generating actionable insights for consumers and industry stakeholders.
Regarding the first objective, life-cycle assessment evidence consistently identifies raw material acquisition—specifically mining and refining—as the dominant environmental hotspot for sterling silver jewellery, accounting for approximately 94% of climate impacts for simple items. Manufacturing and transportation contribute comparatively minor shares, directing attention toward supply chain interventions.
The second objective, comparing silver with gold impacts, reveals substantial differentials. Sterling silver jewellery generates approximately one-hundredth the climate impact of equivalent-mass gold pieces, establishing a meaningful sustainability advantage for silver within the precious metals hierarchy.
The third objective, evaluating recycled silver effectiveness, finds strong evidence supporting secondary materials as the single most effective mitigation strategy. Recycled silver carries approximately one-third the carbon footprint of primary silver, achievable without quality compromise.
The fourth objective, examining ethical dimensions, identifies significant concerns including labour risks, community displacement, and supply chain opacity. Certification and traceability schemes offer partial responses, though implementation challenges persist.
The fifth objective generates evidence-based recommendations emphasising recycled silver prioritisation, credible certification verification, durable design selection, and circular behaviours including repair and recycling.
The significance of these findings extends beyond academic interest. As consumers increasingly seek sustainable products and regulatory frameworks evolve toward greater supply chain accountability, understanding and reducing jewellery’s environmental and ethical footprint becomes commercially and socially pertinent.
Future research priorities include: expanded life-cycle assessment coverage across diverse production contexts; deeper investigation of ethical conditions within silver-producing regions; consumer behaviour studies examining sustainable jewellery purchasing; and evaluation of emerging certification scheme effectiveness. Longitudinal studies tracking industry sustainability trajectories would also valuably complement the current evidence base.
In conclusion, sterling silver jewellery, whilst far from impact-free, offers substantially lower environmental burdens than gold alternatives. Choosing recycled, traceable silver and designing for longevity and circularity are central to reducing both environmental and ethical harms within this sector.
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